RICO Charges Filed Against Jersey City Gang Members for Murder and Drug Trafficking

Two members of a notorious Jersey City gang face life imprisonment under a sweeping indictment.

In a significant crackdown on gang violence and organized crime, the U.S. Attorney's Office has announced the indictment of two Jersey City gang members, Kenneth Harrigan and Darion Canary, under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Both men are accused of participating in a racketeering conspiracy that involved murder, shootings, and extensive narcotics distribution.

Kenneth Harrigan, known by aliases "Kenny" and "Kenny OGM," and Darion Canary, also known as "Goon," have been implicated in violent activities linked to the Wilkinson neighborhood street gang. Their criminal endeavors include a fatal shooting on July 20, 2019, where they, along with other gang members, ventured into rival gang territory and opened fire, resulting in three victims being shot, one fatally.

More recently, on January 1, 2024, Canary allegedly escalated tensions by shooting a rival gang member at a nightclub in Newark. Following the shooting, he and his accomplices fled back to Jersey City. At the time, Canary was residing at a halfway house following a federal narcotics conviction.

The indictments underscore their roles as high-ranking members of their gang, with Harrigan notably identified as a primary narcotics supplier in the area. Their criminal activities have been under scrutiny for years, culminating in this indictment, which could result in life sentences for both, along with a potential $250,000 fine each.

This case has been propelled by extensive collaborative efforts between multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Jersey City Police Department, Hudson County Prosecutor's Office, and Homeland Security Investigations, among others. This interagency cooperation forms part of the broader Jersey City Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), launched in 2018 to combat the city's persistent issues with violent crimes through targeted enforcement and prosecution strategies.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendall Randolph of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark is representing the government in this case. While the charges laid out are severe, it is crucial to note that the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty.